Comms/Server room cooling

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JaBZ

404 posts

Ultimate Geek

#250815 26-May-2019 22:34

I have a small 9m3 room that is part of my detached garage. It's used for some household storage and also I have my comms/server/nas rack in it.

This past summer I've recorded temps reaching 42 - 46 in the room, and am thinking about getting a portable aircon unit ready for when summer hits this year.

I can DIY the venting of it outside, was wondering if the something like this would be ideal https://www.dicksmith.co.nz/dn/buy/kogan-smarterhome-41kw-portable-air-conditioner-14000-btu-reverse-cycle/.

or should I opt for something smaller, like his https://www.dicksmith.co.nz/dn/buy/kogan-29kw-portable-air-conditioner-10000-btu/

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richms

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#2246232 26-May-2019 22:46

Portable ACs are very inefficient and IME struggle to make a decent difference since the air going out the vent is room air, which gets replaced from outside air at its wrong temperature.

Look for a used one if you must, so many people give up on them after the disappointment that they are. No real split portables allowed to be sold here because even quick connect refrigerant hoses are classed as doing airconditioning work which is heavily regulated compared to the rest of the world here and AU.

Richard rich.ms

Handle9

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#2246233 26-May-2019 22:49

You are probably better off with a window rattler rather than a portable unit.

JaBZ

404 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2246235 26-May-2019 23:22

Something like this? https://www.tradedepot.co.nz/tcl-window-air-conditioner-2-6kw

I take it will need a glazier/electrician to install it.

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Handle9

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#2246237 26-May-2019 23:29

JaBZ:

Something like this? https://www.tradedepot.co.nz/tcl-window-air-conditioner-2-6kw

I take it will need a glazier/electrician to install it.

Yip.

You can normally just fit a flex to it and plug it into a 3 pin plug.

Zeon

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#2246241 26-May-2019 23:58

Can you just vent the hot air outside with a standard fan (e.g. inline) and let new, cooler air replace it e.g. coming through the door cracks?

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cyril7

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#2246272 27-May-2019 08:22

If its a garage what insulation does it have, a typical domestic set of IT gear (unless youve got a fleet of servers) wont produce much heat, are you sure its not a result of insufficient insulation in either walls or ceiling, if so that is an easy fix, and then think about simply fan ventilation. Especially if you say its only a summer issue, so again that kind of indicates its an exteriour issue that needs sorting

Cyril

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#2246287 27-May-2019 08:53

You'll probably find that a high flow air extractor will work wonders for your room.. just vent it back into the garage so you don't have to do any external penetrations (if i've pictured your room correctly)

You can hook it up to a thermostat so it will only kick in if the room gets above xxx as well so it doesn't need to run 24/7

I've seen setups like this drop temps in minutes and are faaaaaaaar less maintenance

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CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#2246307 27-May-2019 09:49

richms:

Portable ACs are very inefficient and IME struggle to make a decent difference since the air going out the vent is room air, which gets replaced from outside air at its wrong temperature.

Look for a used one if you must, so many people give up on them after the disappointment that they are. No real split portables allowed to be sold here because even quick connect refrigerant hoses are classed as doing airconditioning work which is heavily regulated compared to the rest of the world here and AU.

I just purchased one of these second hand from trademe to heat an office. I was intending to vent it outside.

Why do you say it's so inefficient? I am not sure I understand this : since the air going out the vent is room air, which gets replaced from outside air at its wrong temperature.

Suckerpunch

124 posts

Master Geek

#2247466 29-May-2019 07:50

CokemonZ:

I just purchased one of these second hand from trademe to heat an office. I was intending to vent it outside.

Why do you say it's so inefficient? I am not sure I understand this : since the air going out the vent is room air, which gets replaced from outside air at its wrong temperature.

Normal air conditioning units recycle the air within the room and therefore maintain a balanced air pressure in the room. Once the desired air temperature is reached, the air conditioner doesn't need to work as hard (therefore using less power).

With a portable unit, air is being pumped from within the room to outside the room via the attached hose, creating a negative air pressure inside the room. Basically like a bathroom extractor fan.

A negative air pressured room means outside air is going to be sucked back into the room via every nook and cranny. Since this sucked in air will be at outside room temperatures, it has an impact on the room temperature, resulting in the air conditioner constantly having to work to reduce or increase the room temperature - resulting in more power use and inefficiencies.

CokemonZ

1051 posts

Uber Geek

#2247577 29-May-2019 10:05

Suckerpunch:

CokemonZ:

I just purchased one of these second hand from trademe to heat an office. I was intending to vent it outside.

Why do you say it's so inefficient? I am not sure I understand this : since the air going out the vent is room air, which gets replaced from outside air at its wrong temperature.

Normal air conditioning units recycle the air within the room and therefore maintain a balanced air pressure in the room. Once the desired air temperature is reached, the air conditioner doesn't need to work as hard (therefore using less power).

With a portable unit, air is being pumped from within the room to outside the room via the attached hose, creating a negative air pressure inside the room. Basically like a bathroom extractor fan.

A negative air pressured room means outside air is going to be sucked back into the room via every nook and cranny. Since this sucked in air will be at outside room temperatures, it has an impact on the room temperature, resulting in the air conditioner constantly having to work to reduce or increase the room temperature - resulting in more power use and inefficiencies.

Ok - that makes a lot of sense.

So I have a home office with very high ceilings, single glazed windows, about 20sqm, no desire to install a heatpump at the moment (refurbishment happening in a year or so).

It does have a ceiling fan, so I can move air around.

I can't think of a better option - this thing still has to be better than a oilfin/fan heater right?

JaBZ

404 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2247625 29-May-2019 10:50

Are there any dual hose portable units available in NZ?

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..